Animals of the Zoo  Grevy's zebras (with video)

Sex: The Detroit Zoo is home to three Grevy’s zebras, one male and two females. The species got its name from Jules Grevy, president of France in the 1880s, who received one as a gift from the king of Abyssinia.

Type: Mammal.

Home: Semi-desert areas in Ethiopia and Kenya. Grevy’s zebras require less water than other zebras.

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Diet: Herbivore. Grevy’s zebras graze on grasses and leaves.

Average life span in captivity: 20-25 years.

Height: Up to 5-1/2 feet at the shoulder.

Length: Up to 9 feet.

Weight: Up to 990 pounds. Grevy’s zebra is the largest of the three zebra species. Males are larger than females.

Birth: Females give birth to a single foal following a 13-month gestation period. Foals nurse for 18 months and may stay with their mothers for several years.

Now you know: Grevy’s zebras have long, narrow heads with large rounded ears. Zebras share the same genus as horses, but have never been domesticated. Zebras have black skin and the stripes and underbelly are white. Every zebra has its own unique stripe pattern. Grevy’s zebra stripes end before reaching the belly. The zebra’s stripes serve as camouflage, making it difficult for predators, such as lions and hyenas, to identify individuals because they can’t tell where one zebra starts and the other ends. Zebras have excellent eyesight. They sleep standing up.

Protection status: Endangered. Expansion of livestock farming has limited habitat and access to water, and poaching is another problem.

Detroit Zoo information: 248-541-5717, www.detroitzoo.org.

Editor’s note: Animals of the Zoo is a weekly series. Next: Elands.

— Joe Ballor, Daily Tribune

A Bushman story from Northern Namibia

Once, when the Earth was young, it was very hot and dry. Water could be found only in a few small pools scattered around the desert. At one of these pools a baboon stood guard, claiming that he was the owner. “No one may drink here, for this water is mine alone!” he declared, chasing away all who came to drink. He had built a fire close to the pool so he could protect his water during the bitterly cold desert nights.

One day the zebra came to quench his thirst after a very long and tiring journey. In these early days the zebra had no stripes. He wore a dazzling coat of pure white fur. The baboon jumped up angrily. “Who are you? Go away!” he screamed. “I am Lord of this water. It is mine!”

The zebra was tired and hot. “This is not your water, it belongs to everyone!” shouted the zebra. The baboon was furious and said that if the zebra wanted water he must fight for it.

The two were soon engaged in a fierce struggle. They rolled back and forth until the zebra gave one mighty kick and the baboon went flying high up into the rocks behind the pool. The zebra had kicked so hard that he lost his balance. He staggered back into the baboon’s fire, sending the burning sticks flying up in the air. These left black scorch marks all over his fine white coat. Hurt and frightened he galloped to the plains where he has remained ever since.

Eventually he came to like his new coat of black and white which makes him stand out among all the animals.